I Ain't Been Knitting

Technically I've already blown the whole purpose of this blog, my unwitting and now bootleg accomplice in an effort to erect an accountability partner for my knitting. I haven't knitted in several days. boo hoo! The sticks briefly clicked over the weekend, but it was a distracted effort at best. Instead of reading my central park hoodie pattern or figuring out how to finish the brim on my MJB hat, I read blogs. However, if I could add some fine print to excuse the detour, it was all for knitting inspiration! Happily, I did get knit-inspired and blog educated. Hey how do you like my avatar? I learned that from Crimson Purl's (see her info below) blog. Did you know you could animate avatars? Anyhoo, I digress...I've checked out the blogs of some friends from the Ravelry groups. Funny thing happens, you stop at one blog and 10 blogs later...OMG where am I! But it was fun, educational and a needed rest from this week's madness. I must say there are some very talented knitters and bloggers out there. Bravo! For them that is...and for me, three lashes with a wet noodle because my UFOs are still floating in space. ET come home! I'm about 10 seconds from sending up a Hubble to keep an eye on things.

So when you need some rest or have read time, check out these blogs, many interesting things going on in the virtual neighborhood. I'll continue to post more as I have several bookmarked. Go on, get surfing (is that still an in-style term?) If you get lost, enjoy the ride, take in the "sites," and let me know what you think.

Crimson Purl
She recently knit some lovely projects. My favorite post was picture souvenirs from a baby shower at a local restaurant. Ah, sisterhood.

Skyline Chilly
Another talented knitter. She has a contest going on this month to support Leukemia. Go check out the beautiful sock pattern and leave a word of encouragement for her efforts.

Niksknits
A biologist, knitter, designer. That's a lot of talent. I connected with her comment "Watch her as she starts a project for herself and ditches it to knit a gift for someone else.

Tightly Wound Loosely Knit
Tightly Wound and her sister Loosely Knit are about to embark on a tag team adventure. To celebrate, they are spreading goodwill in a hearty contest. Go check her out.

Evil Tuesday
Devin is getting married in June and is knitting a wedding shrug for the big day. What a way to soothe wedding jitters.

Kinky Coils
Hair advice, oh so needed. And her writing is a hoot. Thank you!

Cozy's Place
As I mentioned earlier you can start at one blog and end up, 10 clicks later someplace completely different. Reading Kamika's blog sent me here. This woman is a funny writer.

Only the Lonely Valentine Match-Up

Originally uploaded by k_purls2

There goes my baby \ There goes my heart \ They're gone forever \
So far apart \ But only the lonely \ Know why \ I cry \ Only the lonely \
Only the lonely \ Know the heartaches I've been through \ Only the lonely \ Know I cried and cried for you \ Maybe tomorrow \ A new romance \ No more sorrow \ But thats the chance - you gotta take \ If your lonely heart breaks \ Only the lonely By Roy Orbison

What must it feel like to be discarded or stored away, for your beauty to never behold the light of day? What must it feel like to be ripped out, frogged and put into a ball when you were once a lovely hank, a scrumptious skein, whisked out of the store with delight, now stored away with empty promises? I think we know. How many of us have been loved and then dumped. Oh, the heartache! Only the lonely understand.

There are anti-cruelty societies for pets to find new homes, thrift stores for vintage clothes, heck even raggedy used cars get some love. So were does lonely yarn go? Without their label, converted to a ball or leftover from a project, these poor fibers are passed their prime, no longer needed and loved. This, my fellow knitters, should not be! OH, the heartache! Love is a battlefield!

I believe in my heart there is a place for these yarns. There are needles out there pining for 40 more yards, fingers longing for the touch of one more skein no longer sold. Artistic minds dreaming of gathering and creating, an adventurous spirit ready to try a new technique or weave a bright color. There's a place for the lonely!

Come back on Valentine's Day and see who's among the lonely. Karabella Aurora 8, Berroco Plush, Rowan, Malabrigo, Takhi and more. Odd, small, scrapped, once loved, but now lonely fibers looking for a home. Send for them as-is, take them home for only $2.14 plus postage.

Malabrigo Sweet Treat

My first swap completed! It was interesting to learn the ropes of swapping - the stalking, the creative shopping, the local treats, phew! I sent my package to Melissab, a friend from ravelry. Today I got this package from simplethings, now a new friend on ravelry. Two skeins of emerald blue malabrigo and one in bergamota. I probably would not have picked the bergamota in the store, so it is definitely a treat. I love it. I think I'm going to whip up the luxe neck warmer from Knit 2 Together (see picture above from the book). The bergamota could also make a beautiful hat, the color is very rich. Malabrigo is joy to knit.

Also included in my package was some wool wash, which I totally need a set of bamboo knitting needles and darning needles with a case. Thanks again neighbor!

Melody, Neckwarmer, Neckwarmer, Melody.

Hello, I'm Mehl-LOW-DEE!I I love my dear friend Melody. She carefully and joyfully annunciates her name to announce, actually proclaim her presence. Mel is quite a character, you'd love her. Very sweet, adventurous, giving and hilarious, oh and a great cook and entertainer. She is a closet diva, so it came as no surprise that she'd send me a pattern to "whip" up a 'lil scarf. Not just any scarf, a high collared neckwarmer. Funky, yet Elizabethan. Fabulous. Hmmm. Totally Melody.

This piece was crocheted in Autunno merino wool. It is uber soft and the color is scrumptious. It is a lovely chocolate and the french grey and black variegation contributes to its rich appeal, in my opinion.

I'm posting myself modeling the neckwarmer because Melody is a busy bee. Who knows when I'll see my buddy again? Alas, I have to settle for virtually gifting this gem. Yes I'm giving her the guilt trip that I lay on thick at every opportunity. What are friends for? Oh yes, I know...breaking in neckwarmers. This is going to be very cute with my coat. Wonder how a chic beret would flow with this? Mel, you better come get your neckwarmer, it is making its way to my rotation very shortly. Love you girl!

Ode to my Central Park Hoodie

Oh Central Park Hoodie
Dear purple, lilac, sweet soft
blue sky cotton weaved and
twisted in delight
you know how I love thee
you promised to be good to me
your promised a walk in the park
SO GET OF THE BENCH!
Ah, forgive me for the yell
But to ponder makes
my eyes swell
Will I ever know your smooth fibers
running across my skin
Us frolicking in the wind
enjoying the sun
WHY THE TORTURE
ARE WE THERE YET!?
I will finish you central park
hoodie. One day. One day.
My dear purple, lilac sweet soft
blue sky cotton sweater of love.

Green Gable Completed!

Here she is! My Green Gable Sweater! This was knit in Malabrigo, merino worsted. I have to say I'm very pleased with it. All in all, it was easy to knit, especially since it is knit in the round! But beyond the pattern, knitting with Malabrigo was a dream. I even used my cheapy needles and it was still fun! Very soft. The yarn is also very wearable, it feels like butter on the skin! Mmmmmmm, buttah! I've also used Manos before, which in contrast, is a little itchy.

The color is amazing, the pictures don't do this colorway justice. But I must admit, after doing the swatch, I didn't think I'd like the color variation, inherent in kettle-dyed yarn. I took the yarn back! Tricia, my LYS owner and Tim Gunn coach told me to "carry on!" and sent me marching home...with the yarn in hand! And tada! I'm glad she did. This baby has personality.

I started the sweater around Thanksgiving, but have picked it up and down through the holidays and such. If I had worked straight through, I think it could have been finished in one week, knitting at night.

Pattern note: The total stitch count is off for the medium size when you get to the underarm. Which explains why I initially thought I did something wrong. I also knitted a few extra rows at the underarm for better ease. I did make two hiccups in the raglan shaping but the yarn and pattern held up and hid it well.

Here's the story on how I found the pattern. I wandered into Nana's Knitting Shop, my LYS to get some help from Tricia on the the Matador sweater in Knitscene's 2006 magazine. By the way, this magazine has great patterns including the Central Park Hoodie. Anyway, when I get there, it is Saturday, Tricia's off day, so Cory, was giving me some advice and showed me her Zephyr style Wicked pattern since the Matador was also knit raglan, but unfortunately from the bottom up? Weird. In comes Lauren wearing this lovely short sleeved sweater in golden heathered brown. "Did you knit that?! Where's the pattern!" was pretty much all I could utter. It fit Lauren very well, tailored around the hip and waist and the lace top was attractive. Needless to say, I bought the pattern but still no yarn. I came back a few days later to see Tricia and remarked about Lauren's sweater. "Cascade 220." "No way!" Of course as Vanna, I mean Tricia, the hostess with the mostess does, she took me on tour of the all yarn that was made just for me and my pattern. Of the choices, the Malabrigo was calling my name. A very seductive experience as the other enablers in the shop added their background melody, cheering me to take three skeins home, even though I was supposed to be working on something else! I have a little ball left for a scarf or maybe a hat for my toddler. I love Nana's!

One More Green Gable Photo

greengable_malabrigo2
Originally uploaded by k_purls2

OK, I'm not good at blogging and I couldn't figure out how to attractively post two pictures, so here is a close-up of the sweater.